Greece will offer Cyprus any help it needs to face Turkish threats

Greece will offer Cyprus any help it needs when it comes to facing Turkish threats over drilling in the island’s exclusive economic zone, the country’s Foreign Minister Nicos Kotzias was quoted as saying on Sunday.

In a wide-ranging interview with real.gr news site on regional issues, Kotzias touched briefly on Cyprus reiterating that a solution meant ending the occupation and the system of guarantees.

He also referred to UN Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide, after complaining about the envoy in a letter to the UN boss last month. Kotzias said that Eide’s argument that “there can be a kind of four freedoms for Turkish nationals in Cyprus” after a solution was misguided as were Eide’s attempts, he said, to rationalise the notion to EU leaders.

“This has led some people, in attempts to justify it, to consciously make the false claim that a solution is close,” he added.

Greece ?? and Turkey ?? ALL need to embrace each other and the United Kingdom ?? anyway anyhow in order to recover the Republic of Cyprus ?? anyway anyhow. Turkey ??’s relations between the United Kingdom ?? is very fine, but the relations between Greece ?? and the United Kingdom ???!..

Soho-Knights

Where do you get this garbage from! The UK is not happy with Turkey (Erdogan ) at all. The British people love the Greek people and Greece!

Gokce Kavak

But think these steps more positively, as the UK ??’s support FOR Turkey ??, as Turkey ?? ALWAYS and FOREVER supported the UK ??, especially in Cyprus solution dilemma! This is also never ever true that Turkey ?? doesn’t love Greece ?? and the Republic of Cyprus ?? at all, and anyone who thinks like this is in a fatal total error, greetings from Turkey ??. We love the Republic of Cyprus ?? (south part) anyway anyhow as Turkey ?? definitely is the guarantor of the Republic of Cyprus (south part) and a member of the EU ??!!

Soho-Knights

It is good you love Cyprus. There is only one Cyprus and its people are Cypriots Tc and Gc! If you read your history Turkey fought against the UK in two world wars. Turkey is not respected by any! Country in the world because of dictator Erdogan!

Gokce Kavak

Turkey ?? hasn’t fought against the UK ?? in two world wars?! This is not true, this is not a true fact between UK ?? and Turkey ?? … UK ?? and Turkey ?? haven’t fought against each other in WW2, but WW1. Additionally UK ?? and Turkey ??are allies in both Crimea wars against Russia ?? and Barabaria Coast Wars against Spain ?? for many years!!

Soho-Knights

Today! Europe and the rest of the world views Erdogan as a very nasty and bad man. A man who needs 1000 room palace so he can relax. The Turkish people deserve a better leader than Erdogan who is destroying Turkey. The Turkey that Kemal Ataturk founded and now is in ruins. shame!

Gokce Kavak

There are parts who consider Recep Tayyip Erdogan in authoritarian measures here in Turkey ??, including myself. People more than 45% has a very sharp image for Turkey ??’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan due to the authoritarianism as you see on the polls. But, we are not yet in majority against ‘Yes’ voters as ‘No’ voters, as 48.7% totally.

Soho-Knights

My friend! My brother! As people we are one! We! have had enough of Mohammed and Islam. This religion cannot integrate peacefully into Christian countries. It cannot live alongside other understandings of Islam. We really do not want this religion .

Gokce Kavak

Turkey ?? is not just about Islam, there are more than 5% of people who are other than Islam. Inside the religion of Islam, Christian-mutuality Islam is almost as much as 75%. In other ways, most people from the religion of Islam derived from Christianity later turned on Islam as much as that amount. 20% of people are really Muslim, in the place of Alevism in Turkey ??. Mostly Sunni Muslim people in Turkey ?? have relatedly turned Islam from Christianity.

Soho-Knights

Good to hear! Islam cannot coexist with other religions. Other religions who have welcomed Islam into their countries regret doing so. We do not accept Erdogan and so we do not accept Turkey. Erdogan looks East! And the Turkish people look West! Get rid of Erdpgan and make peace with your neighbours. Sort out a peaceful solution with the Kurds. Then people will like you. Look for peace not war. Look to make friends rather than make enemies!

Gokce Kavak

Exactly!!! ??❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️??

Gokce Kavak

Please also consider one apple and the two pieces. Greece ?? and Turkey ?? are like the two pieces and the apple is the United Kingdom ??!! Greetings from Turkey ??, my brother..

Soho-Knights

As much as I like that you speak positively and conciliatory you have to understand that Erdogan is a bad man.

Gokce Kavak

UK is always and forever happy with Turkey at all, especially Turkey’s Erdogan regime by getting further results with Turkey. UK always and forever furthermore supports Turkey and Cyprus reunification deal. Cyprus actually is supported by Greece and the UK but both UK and Turkey are ACTUAL TRUE FRIENDS in entire universe… Lol!

Soho-Knights

Don’t put your gold in Erdogans vault. The UK is not friends with Erdogan. nor is anyone else ! Who could agree with his megalamanic behaviour? He is needed at the moment but as soon as It is feasable Erdogan will be gone! And it will be from within. The Turkish people deserve better! Please be grown up an adult? He is a monster. For the sake of all those who have been raped and sodomized and killed speak the truth. Can you not hear their blood screaming for justice?

Gokce Kavak

Maybe the United Kingdom 🇬🇧’s own government and Parliament of the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 as well as Turkey 🇹🇷 – United Kingdom 🇬🇧 relations and the people of the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 completely and enormously! Turkey 🇹🇷 is ready to stand shoulder and shoulder with the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 completely!..

Soho-Knights

We do not stand alongside megalomaniacs’ such as Erdogan! The Turkish people deserve better!

Gokce Kavak

To Greek Cypriot Soho-Knights;
You are very right as well as the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) but not as well as Turkey and the United Kingdom and Turkey and the United Kingdom relations at all completely. Everyone knows that the Greece’s and the Republic of Cyprus (RoC)’ policies are very parallel, that’s why Turkey and the United Kingdom have all angered at the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) as well as the mainly Greek Cypriot state – with the same mind of the European Union. Republic of Cyprus (RoC) is the republic, like Turkey, Greece and the member of the Commonwealth-State of the United Kingdom. The main reason why Greece and the Republic of Cyprus have all joined to antagonise against Turkey and the United Kingdom is that their imperial considerations, thought and statements. Everyone knows this issue and then the Republic of Cyprus have also kept Turkey and the United Kingdom apart from the Greece’s dominance of the decision-giving issues in the Republic of Cyprus, as Greece is also the republic.

Soho-Knights

You must be living on a different planet!!! Greece and Cyprus combined to antagonise Turkey!!! Are you for real? Next to North Korea there is no worse dictatorship than the barbaric regime of Erdogan your paymaster. You should be ashamed of yourself. The thousands raped and sodomized by your master will not forget. The Greeks the Armenians the Pontians and the Kurds all have good reason to forgive! But at their peril to forget what Turkey has done to them and continues in its brutal and barbaric treatment of minority groups today. You are having a laugh! You truly are delude imagining that Erdogan is not despised all around the world. You are sad man taking money to write lies.

Gokce Kavak

Anglo-Cypriots, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus are ALL always and forever welcome to Turkey.

Soho-Knights

Erodogan is a megalomaniac! A dangerous dictator who has stained Turkish history. His imam recently said that Turkey will be an Islamic state in the future whereby all foreigners will pay a tax and be compelled to pray! The Turkish people deserve better Than Erdogan. Get rid of him before the Kurds do so. Don’t allow this dictator to cause any more innocent deaths!

Gokce Kavak

My purpose is not to scare you, but I want you to know the reality about Turkey: the imam who is previously working for Mr Erdogan, or President of Turkey, is a spy now to the United States. And they were badly showing Turkey to represent there to the United States, just as they are doing to the Republic of Cyprus, as Turkish-Greek Cypriot fugitive.

Parthenon

What about the other guarantor, the UK. Will they stand by and do nothing to defend Cyprus? Perhaps we should take their bases away from them if they act like cowards again

to be honest , they were not really cowards because they were in on it. The only time we can say they were cowards was when the turks went up to the walls of the british base at Dhekelia and fired a shell into it. Brits did not return fire.

Parthenon

Very true. They even rescued 70 Turkish sailors from a ship sunk by the Turks by mistake. Absolute disgrace.

Cosi

Lets end this once and for all, lets face it the turks cant be trusted, no one can deal with them and have been a thorn for our Cyprus for too long, lets get it over and done with and fight with the Greeks side by side, then xehno!

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

Greece cannot be relied up on this regard. Look at history. Best is to leave situation as is until someone else that wants to, can.

Bjoern Luley

Greek hybris like the megalo idea 100 years ago. And where did it end? The UN should FORCE the RoC into enosis! May be then you would wake up!

Orhan Ozdes

Are you serious or frustrated????

emba paphos

Proof is in the pudding, lets hope it doesn’t come to all out destruction and mayhem….cannot for the life of me understand why a nation with such a land mass is not content with it’s borders and is in a constant state of dispute with most of it’s neighbors….

braveheart

You are confusing political disputes with existing borders in Turkey.
No extension of these was planned, carried out or even thought of.

goofy funk

Crisis Leaves Greek Military Outgunned By Turkey

By Andy Dabilis – Apr 5, 2013
26 23 Google +6 0 10 6752
stratostStruggling with a crushing economic crisis that has cut government spending across the board, Greece’s military is seeing itself unable to keep pace with rival Turkey in armaments and preparedness.

The cuts have meant that Greek pilots have not been able to be as effective in preventing Turkish fighters from violating Greek air space, and the Navy is limited in trying to follow Turkish vessels that come into Greek territorial waters. Turkey’s expanding military is the second largest in NATO.

“The military isn’t just bleeding — it’s boiling,” Hellenic Navy officer Yannis Katsaroulis said in an interview with Germany’s Deutsche Well. Officials acknowledged that the Greek military, with a $7.5 billion budget in 2012, could not maintain its assets amid deep budget cuts.

They said the Hellenic Air Force could no longer fly many of its F-16 multi-role fighters because of a lack of spare parts and maintenance. The Hellenic Navy has also been forced to restrict operations amid a fuel shortage. The Hellenic Army has been unable to receive 400 U.S.-origin Abrams main battle tanks because it couldn’t afford to transport them from the United States. Military personnel have seen a 37 percent cut in their salaries.

Katsaroulis said Greek military officers warned Defense Minister Panos Panagiotopoulos of growing unrest. They said the budget cuts, which reached nearly 30 percent since 2010, were pushing many of the officers to vote for right-wing parties and with many officers leaving.

“We recently met with the defense minister to voice our anger about the cuts and one of us, a brigadier, piped up and said that we are all dead set on voting for (the far right-wing) Golden Dawn in the next elections,” he said. Katsaroulis added: “Don’t be surprised if tanks roll out onto the street and a military rebellion occurs. Everything is possible at this point.”

Other officers agreed. They said Greece, which spends more on defense than another other European Union member, could no longer compete with Turkey, which routinely enters air space and waters claimed by Athens. “Just the other day, a Turkish battleship strayed twice in Greek waters, and what did we do?” Yiorgos Glitsis, a retired submarine officer, recalled. “We chased it halfway through the Aegean with a ship half its size, like a dinghy.”

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

4 year old article. They have adapted, not to mention certain U.S. handouts with the 50 keowa helo’s and 15 ch47’s which were vital. Keowas to arrive shortly. Ch47’s half way delivered. Greece also has more modern subs than turkey. The U214’s alone are enough to handle the entire turkish sub fleet. Turkey still uses m60 and m48 mbts as its main tank too.

karlyboy

Well do not rely on Frau Merkel!

With the UK leaving they have had enough bailing Europe out twice but would step in for Cyprus. That does not stand for Maltas corrupt president though. He wrecked his countries relationship with the UK. It has been duly noted.

pkay1000

Turkey”s navy poses no threat. Calm down everyone. In case you haven’t been paying attention Cyprus doesn’t have a navy. So those Turkish navy ships are going to be very lonely out in the Mediterranean .

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

while I agree that there is too much hysteria regarding the “omnipotent” turkish military, otoh, statements like yours are just simply not true. Greece can counter the Turkish navy in certain ways but let’s not get carried away by saying that they pose no threat. They do, and a naval response will be necessary when the oil is being drilled. There is no other choice. However, Greece is not alone in this. Israel has a defense pact with Greece and Cyprus regarding the oil drilling and other situations. It will be activated if anything goes down.

pkay1000

It won’t come to that. This is just posturing by Erdogan. Blowing up civilians and support vessels which are all owned and manned by non Cypriots or even Greeks would be futile and counter productive.

Bjoern Luley

Greece should solve her essential problems first, before she tries to intermingle into other countries affairs! CYPRUS is an independent country and no Greek colony. And no Turkish either! The main problem is, that many Cypriots would like to have it otherwise…

matt z

It is true that Cyprus is an indepent nation, however; Greece, England and Turkey are still guarantors which means that are obligated to protect the freedoms of the people of Cyprus. If Turkey is theatening to interfere with Cyprus’s freedom to exploit the wealth of it’s land, then the guarantor powers are be obligated to act.

Victor Cominos

Yes, you are right but sadly the guarantee is not worth the paper it is written on. The lack of British action when Turkey in invaded in 1974 in adequate evidence of that.

pkay1000

Sure the British navy is on its way. RULE BRITANNIA!!!!!

NICKDAVIS844

When will your theory of protection from guarantors be connected with the reality of what the guarantor does with their guarantee.

Bobby

Hi Bjoern
I am not a Cypriot
I am a third generation Turk living abroad
Turkey is not going anywhere
they want it all (as the QUEENS rock group song goes !!!) and they want it now !!!
its bully tactics …..

hh faris

Hi Bobby!
I’m not a Cypriot.
I am a third generation Greek living abroad.
You…… are the devil in disguise!!!! A song by Elvis Presley, have a nice day my Greek friend.

Bobby

Hi hh faris or whoever you are

I don’t know who you are

I guess you disagree with my opinion

Perhaps Turks are not allowed to have ANY OPINION (except
the opinion authorised by Turkey of course….just ask the thousands in prison
and counting)

I really hope you are not a Turk

I would hope Turks respect each other tolerate different views and behave in a civilised polite manner …..at least the Turks I live and work ..are like this

I don’t know much about Elvis Presley

I know he was not a Turk

I know he was polite and had something constructive to say

Maybe you are a Greek…I don’t really know any Greeks that well

I suppose you calling me “a “Greek” is some type of cures or put down?

Is that right ?

Its like me saying that your mother is a etc etc etc etc

Really is that the best you can do?

Don’t you have anything clever or constructive to say?

Or am I touching a raw nerve

I am telling the truth and and I am a Turk that must frustrate you!!!!!!!!

…….how could a Turk say that Turkey is an invader an occupier a bully…..well I am not the only Turk there are I guess many Turks who share this view

…just go online and read what Turks in Europe Canada say about Turkey’s hand behind ISIS Turkey’s invasion of Syria Iraq the dirty deals it did with Russia and Putin….

a good proud REAL Turk would say the truth even if it hurts

a good proud REAL Turk would work hard to improve their country their people not lead it into war stealing oil and land or water of others or using the TC

…..the world is not stupid…and some Turks have brains and are brave to tell the truth.

Some maybe are just liars, cowards , are brainwashed or just don’t care

So which one are you?

hh faris

Bobby STOP pretending to be a Turk, Just say you are racist Greek who hates Turks and I will have more respect for you.

Bobby

Instead of setting out your argument this is the best you can do?

I was born a Turk

I assume you are maybe a Turk?

If so like you I did not chose to be born a Turk

Like a Chinese or Arab or Uduan who do not chose their ethnic genetic pool

Seems you are the racist ….your hatred of any Turk which has a different view says much about the quality of debate

I respect your view as a Turk regardless of you Le Penn view of the world

If you are a real Turk respect your people and want to advance their welfare you would be civil and tolerant of all Turks regardless if they are born in turkey or not

Perhaps I have touch a raw nerve

Perhaps the racist bigoted ethnocentric people we accuse others are actually in front of us for all to see……

Despite your apparent intolerance of any Turk who disagrees with you must off course concluded that naturally they can not be a Turk…..I mean how can Turks have different thoughts …..have the ability to think outside the official story….let’s face it the world is flat…Turkey said so….abd all Turks need to be told what to think right?

Let’s treat all Turks as uncivilised idiots. Is that the argument ?

STOP Pretending you are presenting the views of Turks or you are supporting the plight of TCs

I would have some respect for you if you just admitted how much you really care for the slow dilution of TC culture…..Turks ethnic cleansing Turks…..it’s only a step away from silencing Turks to filling up the Prisons in turkey to slowing making the TCs a minority within a state of 80 million ……..

So who is really pretending ………

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

You either forgot or never knew that this is not “other countries affairs” because Greece is a party to the oil/fossil fuel process in the eastern med as it will be part of the transit route. Educate yourself.

Bjoern Luley

Do you really believe, that the EU or anybody else will finance the silly idea of the “wishful thinking” project of Israel, Cyprus and Greece and build a subsea pipeline for Israeli and (perhaps!) Cypriot gas to Greece, just because the RoC government wants to circumvent Turkey? Continue dreaming! In the meantime the pipeline from the Israeli offshore wells to Turkey and Egypt will be ready and nobody will even contemplate on the silly Cyprus-Greece pipeline idea! Dont forget: Cyprus and Greece are bancrupt and still running through outside credits which have to be repaid (with interest!).

Frederic Harakis

Good reply but such is the gullability and ignorance around that begs belief

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

we will see that you and the other guy are the ones being ignorant soon.

Frederic Harakis

My apologies, you and few others excluded. Reading your entries further down I think they have some validity which I agree with, but forget the Cyprus-Greece pipeline unless foreign investors come in (which I doubt for mainly logistc reasons) or Turkey implodes which is a possibility unless Erdogan does not backtract away from his tandrems and there is no other choice.

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

of course the EU supports it, it is at the mercy of Russia’s fuel. Turkey is not a party to this project, and besides that, the fuel is not in turkey’s eez so they have no business in this………..you are the one dreaming, and Cyprus isn’t bankrupt, Cyprus successfully exited the IMF/eu central bank loan program and even returned 1/3 of the funds since it didn’t need them. Educate yourself!

Bjoern Luley

No country in the EU wants to exchange a limited dependency on Russian oil and gas with a dependency from apartheid state Israel or from Cyprus, who will need her gas for herself (if there is ever some!) By the way: how come, that in Cyprus (South) so many believe that they have a right to get most infrastructure projects financed by the EU?! Thats what I mean with “bancrupt state”. Most of the important things are foreign financed! And wait till the first repayments have to be done, f.e. the 2,5 billion Dollars to Russia. I wonder if they will ever be paid back…At the moment Cyprus is living on loans from outside!

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

well that’s where you’re WRONG again, europe is DESPERATE to put another foot on Russia’s throat , which includes sanctions. It’s total war against Russia the next step is military intervention of some sort. Cyprus is not living on loans from the outside, you are living in 2013, we live in 2017. The economy has been seeing growth for over 2 years now. Nothing wrong with getting aid for infrastructure either, many eu states get assistance with all kinds of things. Educate yourself!

Bjoern Luley

Yes, yes, you are totally right! Europe is desperate to “put another foot on Russia’s throat”. Therefore Mrs. Merkel flew to Russia a week ago and met with Mr. Putin to take measurement how to kill him. And Cyprus is not living on loans, because the roughly 10 billion Euros credits she got from the international community (incl. Russia!) were a present and will never have to be paid back. And it is right to always critizise the EU but try to squeeze out as much money from here for projects, which could or should be financed from local funds.
Sorry for me to be so uneducated and blind towards the Cypriot realities.

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

You either are ill informed or you do not understand the articles you read. You are implying that Merkel went to Russia for WHAT exactly? , it is unrelated to fossil fuels, hello?……………….and YES Cyprus is NOT living on loans, why don’t you do a search online or maybe even here on Cyprus mail which shows that Cyprus has EXITED the loan program and had RETURNED unused funds? !………this means………………CYPRUS DOES NOT LIVE ON LOANS and it’s economy has reached G R O W T H! don’t be upset that I correct all your errors, be happy that Cyprus is in the clear economically! once again………….EDUCATE YOURSELF! I AM TIRED OF EDUCATING LAZY SHEEP LIKE YOU!

Bjoern Luley

You really must be a candidate for the Nobel Prize in economics, I believe… But please Mr. Professor and educator, please tell me, if the 8 billion loan by the Troika and the 2,5 billion loan from Russia (all from 2012/13) which helped to avoid the total bancruptcy of Cyprus in 2013, have already been paid back? If not ( and by the way, THIS is the correct answer!), that means, that Cyprus is still living on loans, which hopefully will in due course, not be Non Performing loans, because those Cyprus has already enough, as she lived far above her limits for decades.

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

Cyprus living about her limits? LOL, you are talking about Greece not Cyprus and if you think that I am wrong then you are delusional. Why don’t you explain how Cyprus wound up in the financial crisis in the first place, so I can school you once more……………….go ahead the floor is yours…………

Slomi

Well said.

memyselfandi

We Greek Cypriots are Greeks,of course Greece has a moral(apart from legal)duty to help us.

Trevor

It’s a good idea to look at the military strengths of the nations of the world on the Internet !

braveheart

True. But you have to put it into context with the NATO alliance that combines the strength of 28, even if a few of them flop.

john john

They can not look after their own people,how aare they going to help anyone else?

ZyklonBee

Greece has the 14th largest economy in Europe and one of the most sophisticated militaries on the continent.
You don’t get to do all of that when you you’re “bankrupt” but please, by all means, please, please, please tell all of your Muslim friends and neighbors that Greece is bankrupt so that they’re dissuaded from permanently settling there!

braveheart

The Guardian, 8 months ago:
“Close to half a million Greeks are believed to have migrated since the crisis begun, thanks to the searing effect of persistent unemployment (at just under 24%, the highest in Europe) and an economy that has shed more than a third of its total output over the past six years. The nation has been assigned some €326bn in bailout loans since May 2010 – the biggest rescue programme in global financial history. Yet the fear that it is locked in an economic death spiral was given further credence last week when Eurobank analysts announced that consumption and exports had also fallen, by 6.4% and 7.2%, in the second quarter of the year.
The duration and depth of the recession is such that the World Bank now compares it to the slumps seen in eastern European countries in the early 1990s. The poorest 20% of Greece’s 11 million people have suffered a 42% drop in disposable income since 2009.”

Gold51

Over the past 30 years 3 million Turks immergrated to Germany to find work when Turkey was down with its luck.
That does not include Holland, Austria ect ect.

braveheart

8 million Greeks and one million Greek Cypriots have left their homelands to make a living abroad. What’s your point?

pkay1000

Lol well that leaves about 2 million in Greece and no one in Cyprus. And yes use a calculator.

braveheart

No calculator will help you to understand that the numbers of these Greeks/Cypriots in the diaspora are in addition to those living in their countries now. Start thinking a bit or consult the internet.

pkay1000

Lol are you counting Greek diaspora from Ottoman times…….. I think you should consult the Internet then you might discover why those that could flee did.

braveheart

You are a joker. The Ottoman period is gone since one century. The bulk of the emigration took place during several of the past decades.

pkay1000

True for Northern Cyprus it was several decades ago, 1974 to be precise. I think you’ll find it was over 200,000 refuges that were forcibly removed from their homes. Who knows how many will be allowed to return. We all await the outcome of these negotiations.

braveheart

Denying facts is your strength. Hundred thousands of Greek Cypriots left the island before 1974. You find them in the UK, the US and Australia, wherever there is a buck to be made.
Forget any return to the TRNC. It’s a pipe dream.

pkay1000

That’s the idea hang on to the stolen property. At least you’re upfront and honest about that.

braveheart

Don’t talk nonsense. You know very well that a return to North Cyprus is not possible, even if there is a federation deal.

pkay1000

I know, you are very clear the stolen property will not be returned. This I believe too. Pity we are wasting all this time on the negotiations.

braveheart

Agree. Waste of time. The solution is in place since 1974

Toni

This is called economical commerce.just think how much foreign money coming to Turkey. Every single Turk has invested in their motherland.and this has at least half of this population is kurdish brothers of the Republic of Turkey.

braveheart

Immergration is a terrible thing, LOL !

Bobby

My family left 80 plus years ago…….

it was not just finding work…it was much more than that………it was leaving behind an often brutal society which treated minorities women and dissent badly, were war conflict, violence, poverty, prevailed . As my grandfather wrote about Turkey over 80 years ago Turkey was in “ perpetual conflict and turmoil making a living was as hard as staying alive”

It was terrible in turkey

It was worse in the new country

..no language no right to minority culture and religion

my grandmother refused to take the scarf off……it was one drama after another…..no jobs for Turks or Muslims no right to speak Turkish…..many
became factory fodder with dysfunctional families others committed suicide or got
injured and lived their life in wheel chairs……

migrating to foreign land is a BIG CURSE….

my generation is VERY lucky….

my parents assimilated became well educated got good jobs careers and we live extremely well…..my generation have done even better working studying globally with access to good health….and many opportunities….

Not all Turks were so lucky…..

they did not assimilate they could not cope with the changes they kept the old ways the old habits language etc……..their children and grandchildren
less fortunate…some are into drugs in prison, in gangs some become devout single minded Muslims even some have become ISIS supporters …….

I meet TCs now living abroad.

The older TCs say they would not leave if there was a reason to stay…..and it’s not all economics…..

That’s the sad truth……

I don’t really know any Greeks

I know Italians and Turks working with me both claim to be economic refugees
and the Turk claims to be a political refugee…I see how hard it is for the
new ones to settle it…….

Its more than finding work…….

you can find work earn the money & go home…..

but when you go home like to Turkey you then miss the things that makes the west so alluring……

I visit Turkey frequently

life is hard in Turkey unless you are well connected or super rich…………

the freedoms the opportunities the quality of life education

The freedom of speech and though the diversity of views opinions tolerance civility the sophistication of complex public debate are just so profound
that living in a country like Turkey or the north I suspect would not be easy……………………………

If more TCs leave and more settlers come in what’s the purpose
of having a north ?

I am lucky

The hard life was what my grandparents had to endure.

Grateful to the sacrifices they made.

When I visit Turkey I became even more grateful they made that decision so long ago

Its sad seeing so many young Turks migrate

Its sad to see that the political and economic reasons to leave still exist decades later

Maybe, some things just don’t change.

Toni

Did you mean bottom 14 economy.Greece can’t even pay their pensioners and government officials. You have hand full of Syrian refugees and cry like baby’s. Greece has been kissing Europe ass since 2nd world war you don’t have economy. Wake up and see the reality

braveheart

Greece has helped so many times (not). Why not this time too?

Pullaard

The only help Cyprus needs from this man is to butt out. He’s given enough help in recent weeks.

Banjo

With friends like these …….

Adele

We don’t need enemies….

kypselian

Thank you Kotzias. I believe Turkey will never attempt to do something stupid because they know what will wait for them.

braveheart

What will wait? A joint sirtaki?

Naci Rizaoglu

Yeah and Zorba the Greek to teach us some Greek folk dancing..

kypselian

yes

Banter

Oh you are funny. You don’t seem to grasp how stupid this man’s comments and bravado are. Greece has no money, it’s broke, bankrupt and corrupt. The next trance of money they are begging for isn’t to help it’s people it’s to pay the interest on past bailout loans. Greece needs to feed and clothe it’s poor and needy not pick fights with its neighbours!

kypselian

wishful thinking

Mr. Poopybutthole

What help? Help drinking some frappe?
In order to face Turkey’s aggression Cyprus must find some other friends then useless Greeks

ZyklonBee

Laments the savage in a European language derived from Latin which was simplified Greek while using yet another Greek invention-the electronic device and computer to make derogatory comments about the Greeks who enabled his Hunter and Gatherer ancestors to walk upright.

Charles Babbage, an English mechanical engineer and polymath, originated the concept of a programmable computer. Considered the “father of the computer”, he conceptualized and invented the first mechanical computer in the early 19th century.
(A Greek mother perhaps?)

Mr. Poopybutthole

How are things going in BC? Seen Socrates? You are fantasizing about prehistoric Greek successes and in the meantime behaving like lazy jerks.

Leo

The one whos people is responsible for the death and destruction of millions of people and civilizations throughout history is calling out people as savages. Go figure. No worries. You’ll be washed out or burned to a crisp in a few years anyway. Truly not people of this Earth.

Slomi

An uncalled for statement at a very wrong time.

Bob

Now you can have s thick Turkish delight at the wright time

Slomi

I like turkish coffee.

Adele

Yes me to Slomi.

Bob

So go to the occupied areas and buy them they are cheaper ?.

Slomi

I like turkish coffee with turkish delights whenever in life I m not on diet.

Leonarisso

This man is an absolute clown.
Greece could always help the situation if they wanted to by extraditing the Turkish soldiers that are currently exiled in Greece following the failed coup. They could send them back with a caveat that Turkey does something in return. Erdogan might play ball then

athessalonian

The refusal to extradite the Turkish soldiers was rendered by the nation’s Supreme Court known as Areios Pagos. A judicial body which renders decisions independently of the government’s political agenda . In addition, the quid pro quo deal you are suggesting is not ethical.

NICKDAVIS844

And Turkey will play ball by adhering to the 1923 Lausanne treaty with Greece and take back her army and settlers out of Cyprus to let the G/C’s return to their homes but unfortunately the dream ends when you wake up.

Bob

? he is going to play ball over 5 dirty Turks? Are you fkn allright matey?

Jeremy Rigg

This has just got to be this weeks’ “headline winner.” Priceless!

Attila antor

And there’s me thinking we going to have a solution and all live happy ever after how silly of me

Victor Cominos

I would love to give you a solution but most certainly not on Turkey’s terms.

Soho-Knights

The elephant in the room is Turkey. All Cypriots can work out a solution. Turkey by threats and bullying gives the TC high and unrealistic expectations.

braveheart

The donkeys of the Cyprob are Greek Cypriots, not recognizing their poor position in the political game.

Victor Cominos

You may think that they are in a poor position but there are many who believe otherwise. Just go and ask Erdogon as to how his EU application is progressing.
Erdogon may be a big elephant in the room but then there is also a mouse that roars. I understand that elephants have problems with mice.

Gold51

Your a poor salesman.
Still hoping keep hold of your cheep interest in the north. Are you the voted propaganda writer for the expats in the north….lol.

braveheart

I have no “cheep” interest, maybe you have sheep interest?

Soho-Knights

Again! You consider man power as a strength. 60.000
Japanese used to annihilate 600.000 Chinese every time. Why not talk peace why not try and appease instead of huffing an blowing! Think of all the suffering? And for what!

braveheart

I don’t consider anything. Just check the balance of power on the internet. I have never supported military intervention.

Soho-Knights

Good to hear. The cyprob can be resolved by Cypriots. We are a new generation. I have never heard a bad word said about TC! Except on this forum which is not really serious stuff. If I met anyone from this forum I would be happy to buy them a drink! Whatever we think and say there are plans already in place which we cannot control!

braveheart

You are kidding yourself. While there are many good relationships between individuals, this does not apply overall.
No plans can be in place that will not meet public approval.

Slomi

Today, one can see the most disappointing comments in CM.

Geogrge

300 were enough for you muslumaniacs: Leonidas @ Thermopylae.

Victor Cominos

You are so right. First it was the British and then it was the likes of Erdogon who made the TC think that they were special people who deserved special rights. So the TC just soldier giving Erdogon the excuse to continue with the occupation of Northern Cyprus.

goofy funk

Ha HA HA .. have they got enough money to fuel there ships and tanks?

Maz

FYI Greece has the second highest rate in defense spending within the NATO after the USA

gulumbra

At a time of economic crisis that is shameful

Maz

Defence is top priority when Turkey is so unpredictable. I’ll rather be able to defend myself than drive a Ferrari and get killed.

Anton Tunç

with ferrari you can drive fast across the border in 2 hours you might reach to london very safe think about it!!

You will allways be out gunned and out maned, as for defence expenderture
Turkey only imports around 40% of its arms now, it makes its own go on ytube and see!

Maz

You wally so it makes them for free you really are thick.
Even the weapons produced in Turkey are still part of the expenditure. Dah..
Also why would I need to go on YouTube to see Turkish made weapons, Turkey has been making weapons for decades and exporting them since 2005, it’s no secret you know.

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

meh, most of its weapons are korean copies just like the altgay tank and firtina (really korean k2) howitzer.

Banjo

Yes , they keep buying German military hardware , with the money they borrow from Germany. ???

Neroli

That’s Germanys plan!

Neroli

Yes on EU money

Naci Rizaoglu

Brovo, that’s why many Greeks migrated to other countries because it’s self-bankrupting policies..

Maz

We’ll compared to the north area of Cyprus, 300,000 Turkish Cypriots now live in the U.K alone and have become a complete minority in the North, now that’s sad .No wonder they voted for Enosis in 2004.

Veritas

An absurd statement by an ignorant Greek politician that we can do without, since it’s worth absolutely nothing.
Greece is on the way to create even more problems to RoC.

Gold51

I think Turkey has done far more damage to Cyprus, probably permanently and continues to do so, deliberately.
Would be fair if you considered all extetnal interferences in Cypriot affairs a danger to Cypriot soverignty and Erdogan is the major threat without any doubt.

Slomi

Unfortunately seems so.

Paranam Kid

Kotzias again, the guy who has now bypassed Cyprus twice, and thus put a dagger in Cyprus’s back. His type of help is definitely the kind Cyprus can do do without.
As for mama Greece against Turkey, there is absolutely she will not be able to do anything, except scream & play the comedy.
But Kotzias has got himself in the news again, so he must be playing a different game.

Alexander Reuterswärd

I wonder if Greece will help as much as they did 1974??

Mr. Poopybutthole

Lol
Help level: Black Generals

Victor Cominos

Get your facts straight, in 1974 the American generals were giving the orders to the Greek military who staged the coup against the government in Cyprus.

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

…………….and Ioannides was stupid enough to trust the CIA (not the U.S. generals btw) and he wound up getting pimp slapped as well.

Victor Cominos

Agreed.

Bob

They will this time

Kypreos64 Kypreos64

I thought the same thing to myself unfortunately. With the sole exception of ELDYK and Lokatzides (similar to Marines) from Greece who numbered some 2800 max. combined, Greece pretty much started it when they idiotically overthrew Makarios. Not to mention the climb down in 1967 and had to remove a full division from the island gotten there clandestinely. Honestly , and I hate to say it , Greece has never helped not one single other time and has been an absolute failure in that regard. Sad. Turkey had helped the tc’s but Greece only gave lip service.

Parthenon

Let’s see. Greece has as big a Navy as Turkey but with more skillful Mariners.
Let’s see if Barbaros plays nationalistic music when a Greek Frigate appears in front of it!

Anton Tunç

are you people for real? 🙂 cyprus is 15 mınutes away from turkish mainland with f 16s on air .i dont consider greece enemy but boy oh boy this kinda of foe does not make me excited i mean i would prefer them to be smart 🙂

Gold51

Ever seen a F16 shot down.

Anton Tunç

you wont see them coming with their new f 35s 🙂

Matt Lazarus

F-35 is a “lemon,” i.e. the planes are not airworthy. Too many crashes. Not easily piloted. Good luck to any pilot who tries to fly one.

Maz

Correct it is massive flop and riddled with design faults

Maz

Like when 8 Turkish jets violated Greek airspace in 2016 and were chased away with both of the armed Turkish jets having been missile locked by the Greek jets. ?? not as tough as you think. Greek pillots are far more experienced and well trained than the Turkish fighters and are recognised as NATOS best pilots.

Modern warfare is more about equipment than infantry numbers. Greece has F16s as well and Cyprus has sophisticated Air defenses.
Greek side is used to Turkish threats and smartly keeps cool.
But this time Turkey will go to far if it sinks a drilling platform. Even NATO will be outraged. Greeks will then have to sink Turkish ships in Aegean and near Cyprus .

Anton Tunç

well good luck 🙂

goofy funk

you are joking right?

Parthenon

Absolutely not. Cyprus has every right to ask neighbouring country for assistance under UN laws .
After all didn’t Turkey run to NATO during the Russian plane crisis?
Why should a Turkish ship conducting illegal activity in Cyprus waters not feel threatened?

Victor Cominos

Also Cyprus and Greece have treaties with other countries outside of NATO. In addition the NATO countries have a right to use their assets in a European Union Treat Organisation which doesn’t include Turkey.

Maz

Very true if it came to a show down in the Aegean Greece would definitely have the upper hand.Many of Turkey’s top military and naval commanders are banged up and they are not as well trained as the Greeks. People massively underestimate Greece’s naval and military capability due to the fact that they don’t boast and stay incognito.

Parthenon

Spot on. Geography also massively favours Greece! The eastern Aegean islands are like unsinkable aircraft carriers. Turkish ships have to sail past Rhodes to enter the Aegean. They will be sitting ducks for the Greek military.

Gold51

All it takes is for Turkey to get out of EU Cyprus, take its militery and settlers and leave.
Its quite simple really, Turkey is guilty of invasion and occupation of Cyprus by using its guarantor card and continues flaunting all international and Geneva convention laws. Ignoring UN resolutions and deliberately prevents a solution to be established for almost 44 years.
Turkey is now escalating tentions by interfearing in Cypriot drilling rights in the med, causing further instability to the region.

Shamefully interested powers remain on the fence as in the case of Syria.
What further evidence does the world need to see and hear from a Nato member, abussing its powerful position over a much smaller neighbour country.?
Erdogan said, If there was
“NO TC, turkey will stay”.!
That statement alone quashed all other excuses for Turkish militery presents in Cyprus…..

Barry White

Will the Greek help be cash or exchange?

Mist

I hope the ships do not suffer the same fate as the Phaethon on its covert ops.
Why did they move the sailors bodies recently? They were lost probably because they had been given the wrong caliber ammunition in Cyprus.

Barry White

Best to stick to quality Greek products such as Telephone poles.

Neroli

Yes – such quality!!

Caulkhead

Me thinks a RussoGreek pincer movement is being hatched. And likely little Cyprus will be crushed in the process. We live in dangerous times.

Kibristan

What? now is a good time to escalate the situation? Great so we continue the head-to-head then. Insane.

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